It's only April, yet the papers are full of news relevant to the 29th district race.
First, Randy Kuhl's new office hours get a
second look from the Messenger-Post. Today's story has reaction quotes from locals, with the usual mix of Democrats and Republicans.
Kuhl's earmarks for Elmira College were singled out by Citizens Against Government Waste, and WETM in Elmira
has the story.
CSX had another derailment in Monroe County, this time in Palmya, and Randy Kuhl's efforts to get CSX track inspected
made the Messenger-Post. The inspections show that the track is in bad shape, and Kuhl calls for it to be repaired. Since Kuhl is on the transportation committee, the next logical step would be hearings to see why the Federal Railroad Administration would let CSX continue with such bad track, but Kuhl hasn't called for that, he has called for hearings , which will probably because hearings would show the same pattern of poor regulation typical of the Bush Administration. I expect this will be a campaign issue in the Fall.
Finally, in
yesterday's Messenger-Post story, which mentioned Eric Massa's call for a debate, Kuhl said that Massa asks for a debate about "once a week". The reason why Massa is constantly asking for debates is pretty simple: those requests tend to
make the paper.
Comments
"Since Kuhl is on the transportation committee, the next logical step would be hearings to see why the Federal Railroad Administration would let CSX continue with such bad track, but Kuhl hasn't called for that, probably because hearings would show the same pattern of poor regulation typical of the Bush Administration. I expect this will be a campaign issue in the Fall."
A quick search of Kuhl's website brings up the following news releases and a floor statement:
Jan 23, 2008 KUHL URGES ADDITIONAL RAILROAD INSPECTION
Apr 18, 2007 KUHL RESPONDS TO FRA INSPECTION RESULTS
“The results of this inspection further demonstrate the need for federal inspections on all New York railroads lines, and for CSX to immediately fix defective rail lines identified during the vehicle inspection in New York,” Rep. Kuhl said. “I expect CSX to fully comply with the Federal Railroad Administration, and to promptly correct each one of the 78 track defects that were identified during the investigation."
Apr 16, 2007 FRA RESPONDS TO KUHL’S REQUEST FOR SOUTHERN TIER RAIL INSPECTIONS
Feb 22 2007 KUHL COMMENTS ON CSX INVESTIGATION
Confirmation of rail problem causes increased call for congressional oversight
"I’ll be monitoring the progress of the inspection and following up with increased administrative and congressional oversight of the rail inspection process in our area and nation-wide.”
Feb 7 2007 FRA RESPONDS TO KUHL’S REQUEST FOR RAIL INSPECTIONS
Federal Railroad Administration will send T-16 to inspect tracks
U.S. Rep. John R. “Randy” Kuhl, Jr. (R-Hammondsport) today announced that the Federal Railroad Administration will send the T-16 track inspection vehicle to Western New York to inspect rail lines per his request last month. Rep. Kuhl sent a letter to FRA Commissioner Joe Boardman following the CSX train derailment in Monroe County in January and several other derailments in Western New York recently.
Jan 18 2007 Floor Statement on RAILROAD SAFETY
"As a member of the House Transportation Committee which oversees the railroad industry, I firmly believe that Congress must provide more thorough oversight of this industry.
Furthermore, I believe that Congress, CSX, and the Federal Railroad Administration and the Department of Environmental Conservation must work together to identify what must be done to avoid similar disasters in the future.
Madam Speaker, I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress to create a safer, more efficient rail system for everyone.
Jan 17, 2007 KUHL CALLS FOR RAIL SAFETY INVESTIGATION
Rep. John R. "Randy" Kuhl, Jr. (R-Hammondsport) today asked Federal Railroad Administrator Joe Boardman and Railroad Subcommittee Ranking Member Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA) to personally investigate rail safety in Western New York following the derailment of a CSX freight train in East Rochester this morning.
Looks like he's been on top of this one. Looks like you weren't!
Hey, I'm glad a DC insider can set me straight. I fixed the post.
All politicians are alike - Randy has been calling for this and that and the other thing, but he doesn't hold a candle to Chucky Schumer who is on the air and in print every day saying we need action on any possible problem that exists anywhere in the universe.
See this ling on Chuck and the railroad problem:
http://schumer.senate.gov/SchumerWebsite/pressroom/pr-topics-detail.cfm?...
And he is a senator with, in theory, much more pull than Randy
it is called covering your butt.
Elmer, are you saying that the shortest distance between a camera and a Senator in DC is defined by Chuck Schumer?